Join us – 5 tips to transition with ease

I know you have noticed that your local café sells more oatmilk than cow’s milk nowadays. It’s true, the whole world is transitioning to a more plant based lifestyle.

By “more” plant based, I mean: not everyone goes vegan on their first step. Eating a mediterranean diet, being a flexitarian, a pescetarian or an exclusive vegetarian all mean “plant based”. Even science, who seemed to be set on meat for protein and dairy for cows changed their minds and are suggesting people prefer vegetable protein and calcium sources (link to harvard study).

A plant based diet is rich in nutrients, fibres, healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals. This healthy way of eating meets all your nutritional needs. It is a great way to rebuild optimal physical and mental health. Your guts will certainly appreciate the prebiotics and digestive enzymes increase once you go plant based, and your gut health is directly linked to your mental health.

Good for You, Good for the Planet

Besides your personal interest of investing on eating more plants, this way of eating is more sustainable than the habitual consumption of animal products. It uses significantly fewer natural resources.

It seems too hard.
I’d have to give up a lot of things I love.
My food would be boring. .
It would take too much effort, time, energy.
It’s too expensive.

We heard it all, that’s why our Rawish fam created this blogpost. To help your transition to plant based be smoother, faster, without giving up all your favourite foods, spending all your money or boring your tastebuds with zoodles (zucchini noodles…) forever.

1. Make it inclusive. The sense of deprivation will always get on the way. By adding greens, fruits, grains, seeds, nuts and whole foods your body will naturally want less animal products.
2. Make delicious food. Cooking can be fun and delicious. The better plant based food tastes and looks, the more inspired you will feel to continue on. Make new recipes, veganise old recipes, go all out and cook with friends who are plant based, get their tips. Make smoothies, salads (easy), then more elaborate lunches (intermediate), then throw a dinner party and go all in in a plant feast (fun!!).
3. Add in, instead of taking off. Lack never feels good. So if I tell you to get rid of milk and cheese and fish and steak and eggs and nuggets all at once, you might just hate us for a second, and your body will likely fire some fight or flight responses – we don’t want that. So instead of putting yourself on high alert for survival, try creating the opposite signalling for your brain and body: a “I have so much to eat, I am safe” message to your limbic brain. The only way to do that is by adding. Make your plate more colourful, more nourishing, tastier, more beautiful.
4. It has to taste better than the alternative! Plant based food has the incredible advantage of variety. There are hundreds, dare I say thousands, more options in the vegetable world than there would be in the animal world – that we are used to eating, that is. So take advantage of that by creating interesting new combinations, making food in a way that inspires, surprises. You can use your new desire to eat plants as an excuse to find out what is available in your local farmers market, what grows in your area, what is in season at the moment. Those ingredients will be naturally tastier, and stick around to learn some cool ways to prepare them.
5. Get organised! This might be the most important step for any change you want to make. Don’t let last minute need-don’t-have situations get on the way and stock up your pantry and fridge with what you need to include more plants in your diet. Skip the excuses, by organising your kitchen. You can even use this chance to start that weekly meal prep you have been wanting to for so long! Organisation is key in a professional kitchen. Take this to your life and you will transition with more ease.